Gas meter setting or the like

ABSTRACT

A fluid meter setting or installation for gas meters or the like, the setting permitting the fluid supply line to be connected to a service line of a dwelling or the like while rigidly supporting the meter against torsion. The setting includes a simplified sheet metal bracket capable of being attached to a wall or post, the bracket permitting the use of conventional elbows and straight meter swivel members for properly orienting or supporting the meter. The bracket which is made from identical parts may be assembled at the point of manufacture or may be shipped to the user in nested arrangement of the parts and then assembled at the site, thus, reducing manufacturing and shipping costs. The setting and the bracket are so designed as to eliminate all possibility of gas theft.

United States Patent [191 Leopold, Jr. et al.

[451 July 17,1973

GAS METER SETTING OR THE LIKE Inventors: Wilbur R. Leopold, Jr., Decatur, lll.; deceased Smith, late of Decatur, II]. by Beatrice A. Smith, executrix Assignee: Mueller Co., Decatur, lll.

Filed: Aug. 26, 1971 Appl. No.: 175,312

US. Cl 285/30, 73/201, 248/65, 285/64 Int. Cl. F16] 3/22, F16] 55/00 Field of Search 285/30, 64, 61; 248/65, 300, 309; 73/201 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l2/l93l McKee 285/30 2/1953 Aaby 285/64 X l2/195l Downs..... 248/65 X l2/l968 Siege] 248/65 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS l/l937 Germany 73/201 68 68 30 A ill" '1 20 20 ii 3:- l4

34,569 l/l935 Netherlands 248/300 Primary Examiner-Thomas F. Callaghan Attorney-Cushman, Darby & Cushman A fluid meter setting or installation for gas meters or the like, the setting permitting the fluid supply line to be connected to a service line of a dwelling or the like while rigidly supporting the meter against torsion. The

ABSTRACT setting includes a simplified sheet metal bracket capa- 7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures QhQL i PARNIEDJULI'IIQH 3,746,371

SHI 1 0F 2 6;}38 jinn. 34 36 32 1 INVENTOIS WILBUR R. LEOPOLD, JR.

JOHN J. SMITH, DECEASED ATTORNEYS PAIEIIIED JUL I 7 ms same or 2 FIG.

mvsmons WILBUR R. LEOPOLD, JR.

JOHN J. SMITH, DECEASED ATTORNEYS GAS METER SETTING OR THE LIKE The present invention relates to an improved fluid meter installation or setting for gas meters or the like and, more particularly, to an improved bracket made from sheet metal and capable of supporting the meter rigidly against any torsional loads exerted thereon by ground loads on the supply line or by weight of the meter itself on the supply and service lines. Ancillary, the invention relates to a meter setting which eliminates the use of a rigid meter bar and yet enables quick removing and replacing of a meter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The conventional meter setting heretofore used to support a fluid meter such as a gas meter or the like and to operatively connect the supply line to the service line of a dwelling or the like through the meter, included a rigid meter bar supported from a wall of the dwelling or from a post. The rigid meter bar is a quite expensive item to manufacture as it is usually cast from iron or other metal and it has an inlet fitting elbow and an outlet fitting or elbow integrally cast thereon. The meter bar between the inlet fitting and outlet fitting is quite thick in cross-section in an effort to provide the necessary rigidity to the setting and it is necessary to support this bar from a wall or a post by means of a bracket attached to the meter bar by a single bolt. Usually special fittings are incorporated in the setting in order to properly orient the meter with respect to the supply line and the service line. i

In recent yearsthe gas distribution industry has been experiencing considerable gas theft in meter settings utilizing the cast rigid meter bar. In this respect, holes have been drilled longitudinally through the solid meter bar from the inlet fitting to the outlet fitting so that a portion of the gas being supplied by-passes the meter completely. Such thefts are difficult to detect immediately unless the meter happens to be serviced by. Service personnel. About the only means a gas company has of detecting such gas thefts is when the gas company notices, over a period of time, that gas supplied to an area is more than gas billed to customers in that area. The companies must then inspect all meters in the area because they would have no other way of detecting the particular offenders.

While the gas distribution industry has in the past almost universally used meter settings incorporating the rigid cast meter bar, there have been efforts made to eliminate the meter bar, but these prior efforts have been either too expensive to manufacture and install or they have not been rigid enough to resist torsion loads on the setting caused by ground loads on the supply lines or by weight of the meter itself.

The following patents represent prior art meter settings discussed above:

Number f Name Date 303,858 (Italian) Dec. 3, I93] Re.26,l9l McDowell Apr. 18, I967 3,l87,570 Mueller June 8, [965 3,296,860 Smith et al. Jan. I0, 1967 Of the above patents, US. Pat. Nos. 3,187,570 and 3,296,860 disclose meter settings utilizing the more or less conventional rigid cast meter bar with integral inlet and outlet fittings cast thereon. US. Pat. No. Re 26,191 discloses a meter setting utilizing a complex bracket arrangement requiring special inlet and outlet pipes forconnecting the meter between the supply line and the service line. The Italian Pat. No. 303,858 discloses a meter setting utilizing a bracket mounted to a support means, the bracket supporting the meter but the arrangement does not provide for resistance to torsion loads in all directions as it has a single point suspension with the support means and the inlet and outlet fittings are not completely encompassed by the bracket. 7

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an improved meter setting for gas meters or the like and comprises an improved meter support bracket made from galvanized sheet metal to eliminate special corrosive prevention treatments. The improved meter support bracket permits the setting to be attached to a wall or to a special post supported on the wall or driven into the ground. In. either instance of attachment, the setting, because of the attachment of and design of the bracket and manner of support of the meter, is more rigid in torsion in all directions than settings heretofore used .or proposed. By

eliminating the rigid meter bar, the improved meter support bracket is capable of supporting the meter with conventional or ordinary pipe elbows and straight meter swivel members and thus the meter may be easily oriented with respect to the supply line and the service line.

The improved meter support bracket is made from two sheets of sheet metal by simple stamping, the sheets being identical, and by their specific design the sheets may be easily assembled to form a rigid bracket or they may be shipped in nested fashion to the site of use and then assembled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a meter setting of the present invention and disclosing the same mounted on a wall of a dwelling or the like;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the meter setting of FIG. 1 and showing the meter, elbows, and straight meter swivel members in broken lines;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the improved meter support bracket;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the meter support bracket of the present invention mounted on a special post secured to a wall or a foundation of a dwelling or the like;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view illustrating a modified post for mounting the improved meter support bracket in the meter setting of the present invention, the post being capable of driving into the ground.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings wherein like character or reference numerals represent like or similar parts, there is disclosed a conventional gas meter 10 having an exteriorly threaded inlet 12 and an exteriorly threaded outlet 14. The inlet 12 and outlet 14 have respectively straight meter swivel members 16 and 18 respectively extending therefrom, the meter swivel members l6 and 18 being provided with unions 20 for threading onto the inlet and outlets 12 and 14. The upper free ends of the straight meter swivel members 16 and 18 are exteriorly threaded and are each provided with a jam nut 22 threaded thereon. The jam nuts purpose will be described in more detail later in the specification.

A gas supply line generally designated at 24 includes a conventional riser pipe 26 extending from a source of gas supply, the riser pipe being provided with a meter stop or valve 28 and a pressure regulator 30. A service line 32 extends to the points of use in a dwelling or the like. A conventional pipe elbow 34 is connected to the supply line 26 and to the exteriorly threaded end of the meter swivel member 16 to supply gas to the meter whereas a conventional elbow 36 is connected to the exteriorly threaded end of the meter swivel member 18 and to the service line 32 for receiving gas from the meter and supplying the same to points of use in the dwelling.

In order that the meter 10 may be rigidly supported with respect to the supply line 26 and service line 32 and, thus, provide a rigid setting, there is provided an improved meter support bracket generally designated at 38. In more detail, the meter support bracket 38 is made from 16 gauge galvanized sheet metal parts 40 and 42 which are identical in shape and which are formed by stamping. The parts 40 and 42 of the bracket 38 when rigidly secured together define a horizontally extending meter support member 44 of double thickness of sheet metal, and a pair of diverging legs 46 and 48 extending from the respective thicknesses of the meter support member. Each leg 46 and 48 has at its free end a vertically extending flange 50 and 52 respectively, the flanges 50 and 52 lying in the same vertical plane and in a plane transverse to the plane of the meter support member 44. Each flange 50 and 52 is provided with a pair of horizontally spaced vertically extending stiffening ribs 54 pressed therefrom from the rearside thereof, the pair of stiffening ribs 54 of the flange 50 being in vertical alignment with the pair stiffening ribs 54 of flange 52.

It will be noted by reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and that the double thicknesses of the horizontally extending meter support member of bracket 38 are rigidly secured together by at least one rivet 56 and thus the portion of the bracket to which the elbows 34 and 36 and meter swivel members 16 and 18 is sufiiciently strong to support the weight of the meter 10. While the meter support member 44 could be made by folding a single sheet of metal into the configuration shown, it is preferable to make the bracket from the two parts 40 and 42 as the bending operation is eliminated and there is only a stamping or pressing operation in the manufacturing and, further, the parts being identical can be easily nested into one another and shipped from the manufacturer to the point of use, thus taking up less space.

The horizontally extending meter support member 44 is provided with a pair of completely enclosed horizontally spaced apertures 58 through which the exteriorly threaded ends of the meterswivel members 16 and 18 extend. By referring to FIG. 2 it will be noted that the elbows 34 and 36 are threaded onto these ends of the members 16 and 18 until they abut the upper surface of member 44 and then the jam nuts 22 are tightened to abut the lower surface so that the meter is rigidly held in place relative to the elbows and the meter swivel members.

The lower flange 50 and the upper flange 52 are each provided with three horizontally spaced apertures or holes 60 therethrough. By providing three apertures 60 on each of the flanges 50 and 52, the meter support bracket 38 may be selectively mounted on either a wall 62 (FIGS. 1 and 2) or on channel-shaped posts 64 and 66 (FIGS. 46 inclusive). In more detail and referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 when it is desired to mount the meter support bracket 38 directly on the wall 62, a pair of bolt means 68 extending through each of the flanges 50 and 52 in the outermost apertures 60 provide a rigid connection which resists torsion that may be caused by loads on the supply line 26 or by weight of the meter 10.

When it is desired to mount the bracket 38 on either of the channel-shaped posts 64 and 66, the two vertically aligned center holes or apertures 60 are arranged to receive a pair of vertically spaced bolt means 70 which also extend through a pair of vertically spaced holes 72 in the web 74 of the posts 64 or 66. It will be noted by reference to FIG. 5, the pair of horizontally spaced and vertically extending stifiening ribs 54 of both the lower and upper flanges 50 are spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between the side flanges 76 of the channel-shaped posts 64 or 66 so the flanges can be received therein. Such an arrangement, coupled with the vertically spaced bolts 70 functions to resist any torsion applied to the meter setting irregardless of whether the load is from the supply line 26 or weight of the meter 10.

In FIG. 4, the post 64 is shown mounted on a foundation or wall 78 by means of bolts 80 driven into the maso'nry by a Ramset" gun or by some other suitable attachment means. The post 64 is provided with an offset portion 82 to provide room between it and the foundation 78 so that the meter support bracket member 38 can be easily attached thereto after erection of the post.

The post 66 shown in FIG. 6 is a straight channelshaped post having its lower end 82 cut on the bias so that it may be driven into the ground prior to attachment of the meter support bracket member 38.

The terminology used in this specification is for the purpose of description and not limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An improvement in a fluid meter setting such as a gas meter or the like for connecting a supply line to a service line of a dwelling or the like comprising:

A meter having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet and outlet each having a straight meter swivel member ex tending therefrom with each meter swivel member having an exteriorly threaded free end; a meter support bracket made of sheet metal and being V-shaped, said bracket comprising a horizontally extending meter support member made of double thickness of the sheet metal and having spaced apertures for respectively receiving therethrough the exteriorly threaded free ends of said straight meter swivel members, a pair of diverging legs extending from the respective thicknesses of said meter support member, each of said legs having a vertically extending flange at its free end, the flange of one leg lying in the same vertical plane as the flange of the other leg and the flanges being spaced vertically from each other; support means for said bracket; at-

tachment means to attach the respective flanges of said bracket to said support means whereby the setting is rigid in torsion; a first elbow threadedly connected to the exteriorly threaded end of the meter swivel member of the inlet of said meter and operatively connected to the supply line; a second elbow member threadedly connected to the exteriorly threaded end of the meter swivel member of the outlet of the meter and operatively connected to the service line; and jam nuts on each of the exteriorly threaded ends of the meter swivel members for locking said double thickness meter support member between the same and the respective elbows.

2. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said support means is a vertical wall and in which said attachment means include a pair of horizontally spaced bolt means extending through one flange into said wall and a second pair of horizontally spaced bolt means extending through the other flange into said wall.

3. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said support means includes a vertical channebshaped post and in which said attachment means includes a pair of vertically spaced bolt means, one said bolt means extending through one flange and said post and the other of said bolt means extending through the other flange and said post.

4. The structure as claimed in claim 3 in which each of said flanges has a pair of horizontally spaced vertically extending stiffening ribs stamped therein, one pair being aligned with the other pair and both pairs being arranged to receive flanges of said channel-shaped post.

5. The structure as claimed in claim 3 in which said post is secured to a wall and has an offset portion for attachment to said bracket.

6. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said bracket is made from two identically shaped pieces of sheet metal, each piece including one thickness of said meter support member with one leg and one flange extending therefrom, and including means to rigidly attach the one thickness of said meter support member to the other thickness to form the bracket.

7. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said bracket is made from galvanized sheet metal. 

1. An improvement in a fluid meter setting such as a gas meter or the like for connecting a supply line to a service line of a dwelling or the like comprising: A meter having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet and outlet each having a straight meter swivel member extending therefrom with each meter swivel member having an exteriorly threaded free end; a meter support bracket made of sheet metal and being Vshaped, said bracket comprising a horizontally extending meter support member made of double thickness of the sheet metal and having spaced apertures for respectively receiving therethrough the exteriorly threaded free ends of said straight meter swivel members, a pair of diverging legs extending from the respective thicknesses of said meter support member, each of said legs having a vertically extending flange at its free end, the flange of one leg lying in the same vertical plane as the flange of the other leg and the flanges being spaced vertically from each other; support means for said bracket; attachment means to attach the respective flanges of said bracket to said support means whereby the setting is rigid in torsion; a first elbow threadedly connected to the exteriorly threaded end of the meter swivel member of the inlet of said meter and operatively connected to the supply line; a second elbow member threadedly connected to the exteriorly threaded end of the meter swivel member of the outlet of the meter and operatively connected to the service line; and jam nuts on each of the exteriorly threaded ends of the meter swivel members for locking said double thickness meter support member between the same and the respective elbows.
 2. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said support means is a vertical wall and in which said attachment means include a pair of horizontally spaced bolt means extending through one flange into said wall and a second pair of horizontally spaced bolt means extending through the other flange into said wall.
 3. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said support means includes a vertical channel-shaped post and in which said attachment means includes a pair of vertically spaced bolt means, one said bolt means extending through one flange and said post and the other of said bolt means extending through the other flange and said post.
 4. The structure as claimed in claim 3 in which each of said flanges has a pair of horizontally spaced vertically extending stiffening ribs stamped therein, one pair being aligned with the other pair and both pairs being arranged to receive flanges of said channel-shaped post.
 5. The structure as claimed in claim 3 in which said post is secured to a wall and has an offset portion for attachment to said bracket.
 6. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said bracket is made from two identically shaped pieces of sheet metal, each piece including one thickness of said meter support member with one leg and one flange extending therefrom, and including means to rigidly attach the one thickness of said meter support member to the other thickness to form the bracket.
 7. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said bracket is made from galvanized sheet metal. 